Blog#15

At New Economics School (my university) we have three mandatory (math, economics and English) and two optional subjects. So, this time I want to tell you about my English course.

I think learning foreign languages is really important in the modern world, because it can help you in your future life. It's hardly to find a student or a pupil, who does not study any foreign language, such as English, German, French and so on.

My English course at NES helped me in many ways of my life.

Firstly, I learned how is better to write different types of essay, for example descriptive, argumentative essay and so on.

Seconly, I have read many texts. As a result, I found out something new for me from them and many new words.

Thirdly, now I have a blog. It is the way to write what I really want and improve my writing skills. This course has many advantages. English is an optional subject, so I have chosen it, because I really like this course. By the way, we will read "Catcher in the rye" in English. It is one of my favorite books and I have read it in Russian two times.

Blog #14

This week I haven’t enough time to write a long meaningful post, so I just want to count my lovely films this time. This list contains not only modern films, there are black-white and silent films.

30 films I really like:

• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
• What Happens in Vegas (2008)
• Across the Universe (2007)
• Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
• Titanic (1997)                
• Mr. Nobody (2009)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
• Collateral (2004)
• Seven Pounds (2008)
• Catch Me If You Can (2002)
• Paris, je t'aime (2006)
• 8 femmes (2001)
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2008)
• Sleepy Hollow (1999)
• Romeo and Juliet (1968)
• Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)
• Lonely Hearts (2006)
• Remember Me (2010)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)
• Requiem for a Dream (2000)
• The Butterfly Effect (2004)
• Edward Scissorhands (1990)
• Chaplin (1992)
• Interstate 60 (2002)
• Pay It Forward (2000)
• Dorian Gray (2009)
• Get Him to the Greek (2010)
• The Breakfast Club (1985)
• Modern Times (1936)
• Roman Holyday (1953)

A Critique of My Argumentative Essay (Blog #13)

I got my English course homework last week which was to write argumentative essay. The theme of my blog this week is to write a critique of my argumentative essay. So, I should begin…

Pluses of my argumentative essay:

• ·         This essay includes many historical facts
• ·         Theme of this essay is arguable
• ·         There are many quotations of famous people
• ·         You can find out something new, while you reading this essay

Drawbacks of my argumentative essay:

• ·         There are only two arguments
• ·         My essay is less than 2 pages
• ·         There is no works cited
• ·         There are no summaries

How I should improve my essay:

• ·         Add two or more arguments in my essay
• ·         Add works cited
• ·         Add one summary or more
• ·         Reread essay and correct grammar and mechanic mistakes
• ·         Add more quotations and paraphrases

How is this essay different then essays I wrote earlier in the first semester:

• ·         It is longer than my previous essays
• ·         It includes more connections between paragraphs
• ·         It contains less grammar and mechanical mistakes
• ·        My essay will be contain works cited
• ·         Body paragraphs contain mot only my arguments, but quotations of famous people

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Not so long time ago I’ve read a gorgeous book “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” by Jonathan Safran Foer, a modern novelist. It was published in 2005.   The plot consists of three life stories of three different people, which are bonded  by one common event – the death of Thomas Shell, who tragically died in 11 September 2001, when the World Trade Center was attacked by terrorists. Author tells us about Thomases family – about his father, his mother and his little son. We get to know about their lives, about their happy moments and moments of grief and misery.
This book is not about what happened after Thomas had died; actually it comprises memories which range from The Second World War to our days.
To be honest, it’s really hard for me to write about the book without spoiling its plot. And I also have to admit that “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” became on of my most favorite books that I’ve ever read.
The film based on this book came out in July 2011, starring Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. It’s directed by Stephen Deldry. The movie was nominated to the Oscar like “Best Picture” and “Best Supporting Actor”.
I haven’t seen this film, but I really want to. I just saw the trailer, which includes one of my most favorite songs “Where Streets Have No Name” by U2.  I hope that I’ll have enough spare time during my Christmas holidays to watch it.